Design Thinking for Educators
See on Scoop.it – The Toolkit
Design Thinking is a mindset. Design Thinking is the confidence that everyone can be part of creating a more desirable future, and a process to take action when faced with a difficult challenge. That kind of optimism is well needed in education.
Targeted mostly for the K-12 segment, that shouldn’t preclude other L&D professionals from reviewing, learning, and applying the basic concepts.
Thoughts on Doug Belshaw’s OpenBadges videos
This is another win for my PLN. I am reviewing Doug Belshaw’s well-presented videos about OpenBadges.
Doug, as many of you know, works for Mozilla, and is one of the leading minds there on the OpenBadges initiative. Rather than performing endless F2F briefs, he created a couple of videos that outline the basics. I want to record a few thoughts and queries as I review them. Read the rest of this entry
More MOOC-ing!
In spite of my mixed feelings about the Stanford DNLE MOOC, I am taking on another MOOC in the form of the Open University’s Open Learning Design Studio and their MOOC: “Learning Design for a 21st Century Curriculum“.
I am going to be adding some different tags and categories to try and keep things all straight, but I’m interested to see what lessons I can glean from what is – largely – a course designed for Higher Education. While I do have Higher Ed affiliations, I get the sense that this “21st Century Curriculum” is broad enough to allow for applications across a variety of sectors. I’m also interested to make more connections with other L&D folks and gain from their experiences.
Stay tuned!
Badges! Badges? Yes, we need some stinkin’ Badges!
In typical “me” fashion, I balance out my early adoption and exploration with a relatively late-to-the-table professional development activity: Badges.
I get the basic concept, but a well-timed email from the folks at my upcoming OLDS MOOC got me thinking a little more seriously about learning more about the process. In relatively short order I found myself reading about the Mozilla Open Badges Initiative, and then earning my first badges!
Well, once I get my teeth into something, I’m keen to keep going. I am now signed up in the P2PU Open Badges 101 self-directed “course” to provide me with a little practical experience in the area of badges and related info. I’m definitely intrigued by the possibilities, even if its not something that I can apply at CFSATE, I like the potential for future opportunities. I also see some very interesting ideas at the corporate level, too…
My next task is to do some mapping out of what a badge program would look like, even at a conceptual level, so I can submit it to P2PU for their consideration.
Wish me luck!
Dear CSTD…why you should stop talking about Learning Styles
While this response is directed to the good folks at CSTD, I leave it as a public artifact for those interested in the whole Learning Styles thing.
There was a time when I admit that I subscribed to the concept of Learning Styles. I also understand why there’s an instinctive sense-making and buy-in when people look at it. Whether you subscribe to Kolb (1984) or to the VAK theory, we generally accept that people tend to learn in different ways.
Yes.
Stanford MOOC Assignments and Disconnects
I had a chance exchange via Twitter with someone I have followed for a while, Joyce Seitzinger. She’s well-respected in Moodle circles, and is also an active participant in DNLE and regularly contributes through the Twitter #DNLE hashtag.
She was expressing some frustration with the nature of assignments and their (relative) lack of instructional/learning design. I have to say, I agree with her. Read the rest of this entry
An Inspiring Podcast from an Unusual Source
Visit 99percentinvisible.org for more information.
I’m distracting myself from a little “student remorse” from my hack job on (Stanford MOOC) DNLE Assignment 4 by sharing a recent find.
While I’m a latecomer to the whole podcast thing, I am making up for lost time and I try to balance out my entertainment (e.g. serialized podcast dramas) with some educational listenings.
This morning I listened to the initial episodes of “99% Invisible“, a podcast out of San Francisco that describes itself as:
A tiny radio show about design, architecture & the 99% invisible activity that shapes our world
I like the concept for a couple of reasons. First, it speaks about design; a fundamental discipline that transcends physical and virtual boundaries. After all, you can have great ideas, but without a solid design to make them happen, they will remain ideas only.
Second, the format. This podcast is a positioned as a radio segment with a very limited time allotment. Therefore, the host and producer have a small window in which to get across their idea or subject.
Finally, it also speaks about the things we don’t normally pay attention to and the thinking behind them.
This podcast has relevance to what we do as educators. First, we have to be aware of the little things, and all of the prep work that goes into a learning solution (e.g. good analysis). Second, solutions don’t have to be big to be effective and meaningful. Finally, design, design, design. Design it, refine it, try it out, refine some more, and let the design evolve. Just because you start with one particular vision doesn’t mean it can’t adapt as you learn more about what recipients “need” instead of what you think they “want”.
Enjoy your Monday!
Leaving ADDIE for SAM. With a Crossbow?
Apr 9
Posted by Mark L. Sheppard
I got a chuckle out of the reaction from some of my valued PLN members when I shared a photo of a (nerf) Crossbow training aid from today’s “Leaving ADDIE for SAM” workshop. *
I was laughing at myself because, in hindsight, I probably should have added a little context to the image. Read the rest of this entry →
Posted in commentary, conference summary, CSTD, ideas, Innovation, Instructional Design, learning, opinion, Performance, PLN, professional development
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Tags: SAM, Successive Approximation. Workshops, thoughts